Sunday, December 21, 2008

Where did my week go? I got home from a relaxing weekend to a week of chaos. To add to all I had to do, I have somehow pulled a tendon in my right hand and I am right-handed. Unfortunately, I still had a long list of things to do. I managed to get my teacher gifts made, even though it took longer than it should have because of my hand. This coming week I am going to try to relax and enjoy the season (if my children will stop fighting.) I may have to sew just to save my sanity.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Halla-freakin-lellia! (Yes, in Texas that is a word.) My bags are packed and I am waiting for my girlfriend to pick me up and we are headed to the beach for a girls weekend. That's right, no husband and no children. No "He said...", no "She did ....", no "Where's ......?". I will no longer be the finder of lost things simply because I have a uterus. I did manage to get a little bit of sewing in yesterday. These are the first time I've made dresden plates.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

My doll quilt swap quilt arrived in the mail a couple of days ago. Not only did my swap partner send me a quilt, she also sent the doll to go with it. Of course my 6yr old has claimed her and named her Lola. The quilt and the doll are both charming and I am thrilled to have been the recipient. Thank you Jess, keep quilting! I also want to include a picture of the beginnings of my next project (more on that to come.) As usual I have much to do and not enough time to do it in. Happy quilting! (I am!)

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Yesterday was extremely productive. I got mountains of laundry washed, dried, and put up, and I finished my little "Tree of Life" quilt. I got a stack of Kaffe fabrics from a friend and just had to do something with them. While I did draw my tree out myself, I did take inspiration from a number of sources starting with Kim Mclean, Sue Spargo, Becky Goldsmith, and of course the most fabulous Gwen Marston. It is not perfectly square and does not need to be. I will most definitely be making a series of these. I don't often work in a series but I feel like I have a few more trees in me. Besides, it is the season for gift giving and I have a long list.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Hurray! I managed to do some quilting in between the business of the past weekend. I used YLI silk thread to do this background quilting and it is lovely. It is the first time I have used silk thread for quilting and I will definitely use it again. The only real problem I encountered was getting both my top and bottom tension adjusted for the thread. It literally took me an hour to get my tension set. Hopefully, I can get the rest of this piece quilted in between the mountains of laundry I am washing today.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Last night was my bee Christmas party. Lori loved the small wonky log cabin quilt I gave her. Yeah! I received the cutest felted bag from Kathy. I love it! I finished quilting the brown log cabin quilt and finally got it washed. Today was the first day it has not been really windy here, so I was able to get some pictures. Our Thanksgiving was wonderful with the exception of the trip to the emergency room. My son crashed his bicycle, took a big chunk of skin off his elbow and had to have stitches. Now, if my children will stay out of the emergency room and my relatives will stay away I can get some good sewing time in this weekend. One can only hope.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

My doll quilt swap quilt is on its way to its new home! I sure hope she likes it. I had a great time making it. Before I took it to the post office this morning I did take a couple of pictures of the front and back. I also should mention that I put the label on after I took these pictures. Now I've gotta go quilt feathers!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I did the most wonderful thing today. I went and talked about making quilts with my daughters first grade class. I showed them a few quilts and then they asked some questions and then the teacher had the kids draw a quilt that they would like to make. It was fabulous!! I also got some sewing done today. I worked on my favorite kind of quilt. No, not a logcabin (although I do love a logcabin quilt), a commission quilt. What's not to like about getting paid to do something you love to do! I got these Cherrywood fabrics in Houston and have been making logcabin blocks. I am hoping to have the blocks finished and a border on by Friday. I am keeping my fingers metaphorically crossed (because it is real hard to sew your brains out with your fingers really crossed.)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Was Houston a week ago? So much has happened since then, starting with stomach virus, Halloween, Houston, stomach virus (again), my brother staying with us, stomach virus, the election, stomach virus (me this time). However, my husband and the kids are gone for the weekend so I have had sewing time. Yeah! I finished two funky little log cabin quilts. They are a little different from each other. One is a gift for a friend (I hope I can wait until Christmas.) The other is my Doll quilt swap quilt, and I'm not saying which is which. I do hope she likes it, I think it is pretty cute, if I so say so myself. (I do that alot.) Gotta go make binding.

Friday, October 31, 2008

What do you get when you have a pile of scraps and fingers that are itching to sew? Why log cabins, of course. Aren't they cute? They are just the cutest little things and I have made 10 so far. Yes, I know there are only five in the picture (I took it yesterday afternoon.) I will absolutely show the finished pictures of these little cuties. I'm off to Houston very early in the morning and will have, if not lots to say, then at least lots of pictures. Happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Yeah! I finished sewing my diamonds together last Friday. Unfortunately family, work, life, and a really dirty house have kept me from posting until today. But they are done (all 23). Now for sashing. I have some fabric I might use but I really have something else in mind. The good news is I'm going to the Houston show a week from Saturday and I'm sure to find something there. Woo-hoo!

Yeah, it's time to piece! First I like to lay my diamonds out in 4 x 4 rows. When arranging my diamond block I will make sure I don't make any block the same. The randomness is what will make this quilt sing when it is finished. If you have never sewn diamonds together before, notice that you want the tails "hanging" a 1/4in on each end. (A good way to measure this is to use a small scrap with your quarter inch sewn at the end.) Sew two units together and then two units to make a row. Sew the rows together by two and then the two bigger units together to make your diamond block. When pinning your rows together, put a pin perpendicular thru at the spot you want your seams to meet and pin on either side of this pin. Take the perpendicular pins out before you sew. Use your personal quarter inch measure to help with pin placement. And last but not least, use a sharp (as apposed to a universal) needle for piecing. Finger press your seams open as you go.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Friday, October 10, 2008

Stack two or three strips (making sure they are in alignment) to cut, line the 45 degree angle on your ruler along the bottom of your strips (make sure to be to the right of the selvedge edge)and cut. Next, line the 2 1/2" mark on your ruler on the cut line and cut your diamond. If you need to use a post it note to remind yourself of the 2 1/2" line, do it. Stack the diamonds from each strip into its own stack.

I am ready to make my jelly and diamonds quilt and I will be chronicling my process as I go. I would love to have any comments or questions. So first things first, unroll your strips and lay them out. Since I will be cutting diamonds on the 45 degree angle, I am going to spray starch my strips. (Be generous with the spray starch.)